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Chic Dogs & Magnolia Dreams

The Art of Intentional Living

Chic Dogs & Magnolia Dreams
The Art of Intentional Living
  • Your Brain on Beauty: What Monet Taught Me About Art and the Mind

    Your Brain on Beauty: What Monet Taught Me About Art and the Mind

    April 28, 2025March 30, 2026 Books, Quiet Notes

    Stepping Inside a Painting Last month, I stepped into a painting and I don’t mean that metaphorically. I found myself standing in a softly lit space in Antwerp, where Claude Monet’s brushstrokes bloomed across the walls, floor, and ceiling. Water lilies rippled around my feet. Flowers shimmered and…

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  • The Quiet Rebellion of Reading: Choosing Depth Over Distraction

    The Quiet Rebellion of Reading: Choosing Depth Over Distraction

    April 21, 2025May 26, 2025 Books, Quiet Notes

    There’s something quietly radical about curling up with a book in a world that urges you to scroll. Even more so when you choose a physical book, your eyes will thank you for the relief. We often don’t realize just how surrounded we are by screens until we…

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  • 10 Inspiring Lessons I Learned From Ina Garten’s Memoir

    10 Inspiring Lessons I Learned From Ina Garten’s Memoir

    January 12, 2025March 30, 2026 Books, Home & Garden
    2 Comments

    Be Ready When the Luck Happens I’ve read some pretty amazing books in 2024 but the one that stood out the most, and the one I was most eager to start reading, was Ina Garten’s memoir Be Ready When the Luck Happens. The title is absolutely delicious if…

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Welcome to the Chic Dogs & Magnolia Dreams Blog! So glad you are here. If you are interested in cultivating the art of intentional living, you are in the right place!

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Gardener // Storyteller // Writer // Dog Mom
Flowers, dogs, books & Paris
We live in a world, that in many ways, tries to im We live in a world, that in many ways, tries to impose what we should believe in. What we should stand for. Luckily for me, I've always been a willful child and even more so after being on this planet for 40 years now. The more something tries to push me into a certain direction, the more suspicious I become. And as a consequence my rebellion setting, shifts into a higher gear. This is when I get quiet and try to listen to what my heart truly believes to be true. These are some of the things I believe in part 1: * That nothing is more elegant, timeless and a sure sign of rebellion, as a bright red lipstick and nail polish. * That some humans are pure Magic while others are as rotten as they come. * Being a human being does not automatically set you free from the consequences of having inflicted intentional cruelty to others. And by others, I mean all species. * Being human does not place us above other species. The belief that we are, is nothing more than a human construct. We are PART OF a living ecosystem, not above it. And the sooner we realize this, the greater our chances of surviving as a species. * I believe in giving people their flowers while they are still alive. If I think someone is wearing a great outfit, is doing a great job, is an inspiration to me... I will tell them. If I hear others say something beautiful about them, I will tell them about it. We often think that people 'know' that they are beautiful, doing a great job, succeeding at life (whatever that means.. ) but the truth is that most of us are incredibly insecure, anxious, exhausted, full of doubts and fighting internal battles that the outside world knows nothing about. * I believe that dogs know a lot more about us than we will ever know or understand about them. They see who we truly are, not what we're trying to perform. Us on the other hand, when we look at dogs, we often see them through a very limited lens. This lens does not do them justice. * I believe writing, pen to paper, will make us more intelligent, considerate and better speakers. It also makes us pay attention to the seemingly invisible things that make up a life. It makes us think for ourselves.
June so far has been colorful, full and gentle. W June so far has been colorful, full and gentle. With a garden full of flowers, friendly and happy dogs to keep us company and a table filled with delicious homecooked food and people I love. Can't wait for summer to officially start. So we can revel in slow and soothing mornings, garden until the sun sets, have trips to the beach with the dogs, cozy picnics in the forest, and afternoons of writing and reading under the shade of a tree. What do you look most forward to this summer? #junethings
The more we pay attention, the more magic we will The more we pay attention, the more magic we will find. Beauty is all around, we just need to sharpen our senses and get still enough to notice. But it demands vulnerability and a willingness to be open to the world around us. Look for the helpers. Look for the light and the flowers. You'll be surprised by how much of it you will find. Yes, even in dark times. Even in the chaos. Also, naps! Don't underestimate them.πŸ˜‰ Hope you are well, wherever you may be.🩷 #gentle
Snippets of everyday life and things that brought Snippets of everyday life and things that brought me joy. And documenting as much as possible in order not to forget. At times I find it extremely hard to find joy in this world. I am blessed with comfort, safety and beauty. I have good people and animals around me, I have built the life I've dreamed of as a child... A home full of love, calm and beauty. A home and garden full of animals, books, flowers and freshly baked goodies in the kitchen. A husband that is the love of my life and has been for 2 decades. And yet, my mind and my heart struggles at times. I can feel overwhelmed by grief and a sense of hopelessness when I look at the state of the world. It's not all gloom, but the gloom that does exist is brutal and relentless. This grief is something I thought I had to get rid of because who am I to struggle when I have so much. But now I understand that this grief is what makes me human, open and connected to the beauty of the world, and as a consequence, to the cruelty of it. I don't want to numb any of it. I don't want to become hardened by it either. If there is one thing I have made my mind up about, it's that I don't want to become part of the darkness of this world nor indifferent to it's impact on all of us. To be in this world but not of it. To keep an open mind and heart because closing it off will protect me from the darkness but it will also shut out the light. And I for one, need the light to grow and bloom. I hope you have a gentle week ahead, wherever you may be. πŸ©·πŸŒΈπŸ«–πŸΆ #simplethings
Blue Moon Energy is heavy today. πŸŒ• These snippet Blue Moon Energy is heavy today. πŸŒ• These snippets of everyday life remind me to pay attention to the seemingly small moments. Life is made of a collection of tiny, everyday moments. But more often than not, we forget to pay attention. And life starts to being lived by default, instead of with intention. It becomes cluttered instead of curated. It's a great time to release what no longer serves you, so you can make room for what does. Turning your life into a work of art and storytelling. There is always beauty. Even in the midst of panic. Even in the midst of grief and confusion. We just need to remind ourselves. Again and again. πŸ’™
Stella! Stellita! Stella Bella Mozzarella! Judging Stella! Stellita! Stella Bella Mozzarella! Judging us all since 2023.🦊πŸ€ͺ🩷 @care4shelterdogsvatradornei
Everyone deserves to be loved like Snooty the Shar Everyone deserves to be loved like Snooty the Shark.🦈🩷🐢
Using Instagram for what it was initially intended Using Instagram for what it was initially intended (according to my mind). As a visual gratitude journal of moments and places worth remembering. Hope you are having a gentle Sunday.🩷🌸
L'art de la vie There's a lot we can't control in L'art de la vie There's a lot we can't control in life. But there's a lot we CAN. Simple, everyday things turned into art. By paying attention, being intentional and caring for ourselves and the environments we shape. This is why I love French culture so much. They understand that life is both a gift, and an art form. They understand that we have the power to bring beauty and care to our days. There might be tragedy, there might be loss. But beauty remains, even if we are temporarily unable to see it. Go ahead... Wear your favorite shirt. Put on some lipstick and your favorite perfume. Drink tea in a beautiful cup that belonged to your grandmother. Watch the sun set while standing in the middle of a green meadow. Giggle out loud at your dog's silly antics. Eat your favorite dessert with all your senses heightened. Hope you have a joy filled Sunday.🩷 #intentional
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